Alisha Ruiss began studying voice at age 10. She spent her school years singing in ensembles, competing in festivals, participating in theatre programs (Theatre Aquarius, Lighthouse Festival Theatre Young Company) and playing lead roles in community and school productions. Her experience in Jesus Christ Superstar set her in pursuit of musical theatre career.
Alisha (Narrator) & her brothers (kids’ chorus), in Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (St John’s College).
McGill University Faculty of Music
Alisha spent a year in the BFA musical theatre program at University of Windsor, before transferring to and graduating from McGill University, with a B. Music in classical Voice Performance.
In university, Alisha began what would be a long term love affair with swing dancing. She trained with the Swinging Air Force and placed 1st and 2nd in the Pro-Am division of the Canadian Swing Championships and International Lindy Hop Championships, respectively.
The Singing Sweethearts in the Swing Out Tonight Review in Montreal
Alisha with the legendary Frankie Manning at his last Toronto workshop
Alisha dancing with Phil Bourassa at Frankie 95 in NYC
Alisha with Nathan Madden, Betsey & Andy Cabaret, Le Balcon, Montreal
Alisha eventually became known as a “heartfelt belter”, playing one lead role after another - Sally Bowles, Fantine, Velma Von Tussle, Ulla, Ms Sherman, Bea Bottom.
In the span of five years, she co-wrote & co-produced one fringe show and six cabarets, including her solo show featuring some original music, Single Serving Package, presented in Toronto (The Rivoli), NYC (Don’t Tell Mama) and Montreal (Le Balcon).
Around the same time she was writing cabarets, her parody of Defying Gravity, Defying Irregularity, was cameo-ed in the Ellen Degeneres Show’s Bathroom Concert Series.
In the fall of 2018, Alisha initiated the first musical theatre writing course in Montreal, taught Jonathan Monro. The two year course resulted in several collaborations as a lyricist/composer, including Cougar Town, Very First Day at School and Super Simple Matter, a contribution to Viral Songs: A Cycle.
In the fall of 2023, she released her first solo commercial single recording and music video, Hylas, directed by award winning producer Ophelia Spinosa. Plans for an EP of original music are in the works.
